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I have recently wondered about some knives I have seen lately. For instance:

I saw a brand new Case knife stamped Gowanda, NY

I saw a brand new Kissing Crane knife stamped Solingen

I saw a brand new Schrade knife - advertised as "this knife is not stamped China"

There are some other examples also. The Point is this: Knives aren't always what they are stamped to be.

I know some are marked for nostalgic reasons. But where do we draw the line? When I buy a knife, I want where it was made stamped on the tang. Not where they once were made.

Just saying. What say you?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Smiling-Knife on March 10, 2014 at 15:08

I agree. I thought products imported into the US were required to have the country of origin marked on them. I don't know if that means the knife or the packaging. Many countries have no such requirement. There is a town in China called Solingen that makes cutlery so it may say Solingen but not Germany. It's very confusing.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on March 10, 2014 at 15:48

I agree Ken, should be some truth in advertising! But alas stamps are not always as they appear. Parts of knives manufactured here and some there....makes no sense I guess? Agreeing with SK!

One thought is buy from a knife company who is reputable and you know for a fact where the manufacturing is done.
Hope some other members can weigh in on this?

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Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on March 13, 2014 at 14:54

Any other comments on this subject???

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Permalink Reply by John Bamford on March 13, 2014 at 15:13

I am not so concerned with where things are made as much as whether they are well made . Almost everything that I buy these days is made in China ,with the exception of knives and I will stick with GEC for those.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on March 13, 2014 at 16:00

You mean confusion like this ?? I got this as a gift and did not know its origin- Tang stamp identifies it as a Circa 1923-1933 Remington- In actuality, it was licensed by Remington, sold by SMKW, and made by Camillus in the 1990's. There is a new line now being made in China of these novelty knives- Correct ID supplied by Steve Koontz-

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Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on March 13, 2014 at 16:10

Yes, that's just what I mean. Its hard to tell on some knives and you wonder what you have. And especially where its made. I don't mind a China knife, RR makes some good ones, I just like to know its China, and not passed off for a USA knife.

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Permalink Reply by Michael D. on March 16, 2014 at 20:09

Who knows where 95% of the knives are made today! They come from all over. Pieces are made all around the world and then assembled somewhere else - it's confusing, so confusing that I'm starting not to care anymore.

I will tell you this though. If that's the way of the knife business then I'll judge each knife that I only hold in my hand and inspect and use. If a Chinese one is better then I'll say it. NO ONE consistently makes good cutlery anymore. You get junk and greatness from all over - from Taiwan, Pennsylvania, Solingen, Scandinavia, Shanghai or wherever. And here's the kicker - you don't get what you paid for. It's like a crap-shoot. You pay good money; you get junk. You pay pennies and you get a work of art.

In your opinion, who do you think makes good knives, at least to a medium degree of consistency? To look at? To use as a tool? Doesn't matter where they're made. I'm also NOT thinking of a $220 pocket knife or a $495 fixed blade. Something within the bounds of reason concerning price.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on March 17, 2014 at 6:54

Michael, I think you hit the nail on the head. A lot of truth in what you just said.

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Permalink Reply by Alexander Noot on March 17, 2014 at 7:52

Steve Hanner said:

I agree Ken, should be some truth in advertising! But alas stamps are not always as they appear. Parts of knives manufactured here and some there....makes no sense I guess? Agreeing with SK!

One thought is buy from a knife company who is reputable and you know for a fact where the manufacturing is done.
Hope some other members can weigh in on this?

In thinking and researching this question over the past few years the sentence you I bolded in your remark is how I feel about it.

No matter what a company says....if you feel you can't trust them...don't do buisiness with them. It's why I have no problem dealing with a company like Rough Rider but I DO have a problem dealing with companies like Kissing Crane.

One is pretty clear and proud of where they're from and honest in pretty much all dealings.

The other pretends they're from a reputable and old cutlery house.

Both are produced in China nowadays.

It's why I LOVE dealing with A.G. Russell's company. They'll give it to you straight and make up for anything they've messed up.

Michael D. said:

Who knows where 95% of the knives are made today! They come from all over. Pieces are made all around the world and then assembled somewhere else - it's confusing, so confusing that I'm starting not to care anymore.

I will tell you this though. If that's the way of the knife business then I'll judge each knife that I only hold in my hand and inspect and use. If a Chinese one is better then I'll say it. NO ONE consistently makes good cutlery anymore. You get junk and greatness from all over - from Taiwan, Pennsylvania, Solingen, Scandinavia, Shanghai or wherever. And here's the kicker - you don't get what you paid for. It's like a crap-shoot. You pay good money; you get junk. You pay pennies and you get a work of art.

In your opinion, who do you think makes good knives, at least to a medium degree of consistency? To look at? To use as a tool? Doesn't matter where they're made. I'm also NOT thinking of a $220 pocket knife or a $495 fixed blade. Something within the bounds of reason concerning price.

Like I said before. I LOVE A.G. Russell's products. Why? Because it's all quality (A.G. don't sell junk), they do a lot of their own original designs (not available anywhere else) they're VERY budget conscious (A.G. designs for all brackets of the market from people who only have $35 to spend up to people who have $400 to spend), and the quality is ALWAYS there. They hand inspect most knives that they have.

Couple of years back I visited with them and they'd just gotten in the 2012 Texas Ranger knives. Someone was sitten and checking each and every one of them one by one by hand.

Also, they have the BEST return/garantee policy in the world. If you bought it with them....you're covered. No matter how much you spent or what happened. If you feel you should be covered, they'll cover you.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on March 17, 2014 at 9:20

Good points there Alex. I like to old vintage knives, seems they were very trustworthy. And you could use them, and can still use many of them. I also trust KaBar. Like as been said "many knife companies today are making only for the collector, and to look at, with a big price on them". It can really get confusing. Rough Rider knives are hard to beat, for quality and of course price. If you can get over them being made in China. I just bought a 3 dot case and I love it. It is a great knife. - the topic can get very confusing.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on March 17, 2014 at 9:52

I agree with SK. just because something is made in a certain country, does it mean it's good or bad. I think there's good and bad in all countries.

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Permalink Reply by Michael D. on March 17, 2014 at 21:20

Alexander Noot said:

Couple of years back I visited with them and they'd just gotten in the 2012 Texas Ranger knives. Someone was sitten and checking each and every one of them one by one by hand.

Good info about this company. I appreciate it. They've been around the knife business a long time. I do get their email ads and do like what I see. Because of your review, I'm going to pay more attention to their offerings. Thanks.